Early in the morning, Zhao Hanzhang climbed Mount Mang and stood halfway up the mountain looking down. From here, she could see the Ten-Li Pavilion.
Beigong Chun escorted Huang An and his party to the Ten-Li Pavilion. Seeing Zhao Xin waiting there with the Zhao family troops behind him, just as Huang An had said, Zhao Hanzhang hadn’t come.
He turned to look toward Mount Mang. In the lush mountain forest, he couldn’t tell whether he actually saw Zhao Hanzhang on the mountain.
Huang An also glanced toward the mountain and told Beigong Chun, “General, I will certainly bring back the Old Madam and sister-in-law. Please be at ease.”
Beigong Chun nodded. “They’re old and weak. Be extremely careful and cautious on the return journey.”
“Yes.”
Beigong Chun glanced at Zhao Xin standing below the pavilion and instructed, “Protect the envoy well.”
“Yes!”
Beigong Chun nodded and didn’t linger, waving his hand to let them depart.
This time Zhao Xin was going to Xiliang not only carrying the Nation-Stabilizing Sword but also many local specialties from Zhao family workshops. Besides gifts for Zhang Gui, the rest were for the merchant caravan to trade.
Zhao Hanzhang was serious about opening the trade route between the two regions.
Not only because she now had a Xiliang army, but also because of the Xianbei in the northwest.
Once the Xianbei sent troops, Luoyang would inevitably need to join forces with Xiliang. How could she be willing to let Chang’an hold her by the throat?
So this passage had to be opened—not for commerce, but to communicate freely with Xiliang without obstruction.
This mission by Zhao Xin, besides stabilizing the Xiliang army’s morale, was to connect the two regions.
Beigong Chun hadn’t thought of this yet, but envoys were always important at any time. As a Xiliang native and a Xiliang general, he naturally hoped the relationship between Xiliang and Zhao Hanzhang would be closer.
Huang An strode toward Zhao Xin and invited him to board the carriage.
Zhao Xin bowed to Beigong Chun from a distance, then boarded the carriage.
Xiang Yu mounted his horse and led the Zhao family troops to guard around the carriage.
This time, Xiang Yu was both the leader of the Zhao family troops and the head of the merchant caravan.
Unlike Wu Erlang’s merchant caravan, this one was composed entirely of soldiers, all selected from the Zhao family troops.
The soldiers dispersed to protect the mule carts and ox carts carrying goods, while Huang An’s Xiliang troops surrounded them in the middle of the formation.
Beigong Chun stood at the Ten-Li Pavilion watching them off. On the mountain, Zhao Hanzhang stood on a rock observing Beigong Chun below.
As the procession moved farther away and Beigong Chun remained in place with his four personal guards, she couldn’t help but smile.
Ji Yuan, who had gotten up early to accompany her climbing the mountain, immediately congratulated her, “Congratulations, Miss, on achieving your wish.”
Zhao Hanzhang’s face broke into a brilliant smile. She waved her hand generously. “Come, let’s go down the mountain and drink with General Beigong.”
Ji Yuan smiled and followed.
Meanwhile, at another city gate of Luoyang, another procession was departing, flying a banner with a large character “Zhao” in the center.
Zhao Yi reined in his horse and looked back at the city where he was born and had lived for over ten years.
His sisters Zhao Hewan and the others also lifted the curtain to look, their eyes full of complexity. Once they left, they would probably never return for the rest of their lives.
Zhao Hewen was most decisive. After one glance, she lowered the curtain. “Let’s go. Stop looking.”
Zhao Yi didn’t move but said, “Let’s wait a bit longer.”
Zhao Hezi pressed her lips together. “Third Sister went out early this morning. She’s probably busy right now, so she won’t come to see us off.”
Zhao Yi smiled bitterly and turned to Geng Rong, who was escorting them home. “Adjutant Geng, I must trouble you.”
Geng Rong indicated this was his duty. He was escorting Zhao Yi’s party home mainly to bring people back. Zhao Hanzhang had designated twelve people, five of whom were talented scholars recruited through last year’s examinations. If his guess was correct, for a long time to come, Yuzhou’s affairs would be reported to Luoyang for Zhao Hanzhang to handle.
He had many matters to deal with on this trip, and he had to follow the Commander’s orders to entice merchants from Xiping to come to Luoyang.
Before leaving the capital, Zhao Zhongyu had sent letters to both Zhao Song in Xiping and the Zhong family in Nancheng Jun. He entrusted all four of Zhao Yi’s siblings to Zhao Song, asking him to preside over the marriage arrangements with the Zhong family on his behalf.
In the letter to the Zhong family of Nancheng Jun, he wrote that the recent turmoil in Luoyang made him realize that life was short and one shouldn’t delay children’s prospects over trivial matters of reputation.
As a cousin, Zhao Hewan’s mourning period had long passed. Previously, he had been overly concerned, wanting her to observe mourning until after Zhao Hanzhang completed her mourning period before discussing marriage. But now he hoped the two families could marry soon.
Since he was taking his parents to Yuncheng, her marriage could only be entrusted to the clan…
In the letter, Zhao Zhongyu expressed an urgent desire for the two young people to marry soon.
Upon receiving the letter, the Zhong family immediately had someone consult the almanac for auspicious dates.
Madam Zhong was still somewhat worried. “Why is the Zhao family so rushed? Could there be some problem?”
Master Zhong had read the letter several times and, combining it with recent news from Luoyang, said, “Of course they’re rushed. Who knows when Gou Xi and Zhao Hanzhang will have a falling out.”
He continued, “Once those two clash, Grand Tutor Zhao’s position will be precarious.”
Madam Zhong was startled. “What do you mean?”
“Why do you think Grand Tutor Zhao is accompanying the Emperor to Yuncheng?” Master Zhong said, “He’s taking his son as hostages for the Zhao clan and Zhao Hanzhang, mediating the conflicts between the Emperor, Gou Xi, and the Zhao clan with Zhao Hanzhang. If all three parties are well, he’ll naturally be fine. But once the Emperor, Gou Xi, and Zhao Hanzhang start fighting, Grand Tutor Zhao and his son will be like grasshoppers caught in someone’s hand.”
Madam Zhong’s face turned pale. “Should we still proceed with this marriage alliance?”
“Proceed—why not proceed?” he said. “A gentleman keeps his word. The marriage between our two families was settled long ago. How can we go back on it?”
“Besides, do you think just anyone can stand alongside Gou Xi?” he said. “The Zhao clan of the past we couldn’t afford to offend—the Zhao clan of now we even less can afford to offend!”
Madam Zhong asked, “But when we arranged this marriage, he was the clan head. If Zhao Hanzhang and Gou Xi have a falling out, will their branch still be the clan head?”
“Nonsense,” Master Zhong said. “Do you care whether they are or not? Even if Zhao Zhongyu and Zhao Ji die in Yuncheng, would Zhao Hanzhang mistreat her cousin?”
“Moreover, the Zhao clan’s legitimate line now has only two branches. Zhao Hanzhang only has a mentally disabled younger brother. Besides that, there’s only Zhao Yi, the younger brother of the First Madam. I don’t believe the Zhao clan would let a fool be clan head or entrust the clan to a woman—besides, Zhao Hanzhang is betrothed to the Fu family.”
Madam Zhong breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this.
Master Zhong said, “Quickly select a wedding date—choose dates that are all relatively soon—and send them to Xiping for the Zhao clan to choose from. Since Grand Tutor Zhao wants the two families to marry soon, then let’s marry soon.”
Zhao Song knew the inside story, so regarding the three dates submitted, he chose the earliest one without hesitation.
He still harbored resentment over Zhao Ji and his wife abandoning the coffins and the senior branch.
After selecting the date, he immediately wrote to Luoyang, telling Zhao Hanzhang to quickly send the people back for the wedding.
However, Zhao Song wouldn’t stoop to taking it out on the young ones. Moreover, with Wu Shi’s death approaching, he even added to Zhao Hewan’s dowry.